If your eyes are the window to your soul, what does it say about you if your eyes are swollen, red and irritated? Does it mean you are bloated, warm and mad....
Red eyes have many causes but we would like to focus only on allergies in this article.
It is important to distinguish between allergic reactions and other red eye problems, as the treatment and symptoms of these differ.
Common symptoms of allergies include:
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Itchy & swollen eyes
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Red eyes
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Runny nose, sneezing and coughing
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Itchy nose, mouth or throat
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Headaches
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You also may feel fatigued and could suffer from lack of sleep.
Eye allergies can be placed into two clinical syndromes, Seasonal and Perennial.
Seasonal (hay fever) will have onset during spring and summer time and is the most common form. The most common allergens are tree and grass pollens. Perennial causes symptoms throughout the year. It is less common and milder than the seasonal one, and is at its worse when exposure to dust mites, animal dander and fungal allergens are at their greatest. Some people can even be allergic to preservatives in eye drops.
Best treatment will be to avoid the cause of your allergic reaction. Keep pets of the furniture, keep the house dust free, and know what you are allergic to. If you have seasonal allergies, drive with your windows closed and wear proper wraparound sunglasses.
Eye drops:
Decongestants clear up redness. They contain vasoconstrictors, which simply make the blood vessels in your eyes smaller, lessening the apparent redness. They treat the symptom, not the cause. Avoid them.
Mast cell stabilizers can be used for long term use, antihistamine for symptomatic relieve or combinations are all available. Steroids are rarely indicated. It is important to ask your pharmacist, optometrist or doctor which one will work best for you.
NOTE: avoid rubbing your itchy eyes as this can damage your eyes. The drops designed for allergies will alleviate the itching symptoms.
For more information regarding your eyes and vision, please phone Werner Fourie Optometrists at (044) 873 4888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also visit the website www.wernerfourieoptom.co.za or Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/wernerfourieoptometrists
